Boxing movies nowadays seem to always be produced by people who know very little about or have very little interest in boxing.

They're usually really corny, with overly-sentimental themes and dialogue for nonexistent phrases such as "knockout punch." As if there is a particular punch that every fighter has that he calls a "knockout punch," which is just absurd. Journalists do the same thing.

The best boxing movies are the actual fights, including the HBO 24/7 footage. While 24/7 is watered down, it's much more thrilling than watching a Jerry Springer-esque fictional docudrama about Micky Ward (The Fighter), or a maudlin, overtly feminine television show like Lights Out.

These were poor castings imo. Will Smith as Ali...come on. Wahlberg was far more like Gatti than Ward. Usher as SRL? takes the biscuit.

Ali is probably the hardest, because it's such a monumental person to live up to while playing him. Will Smith did a good job, but I can't think of anyone who really really looks like Ali. Will Smith did alright though, he got nominated for an Oscar at least.